Monday, November 5, 2012

48 A Thrifty Decorative Storage Box

It should come as no surprise that I have a love affair with pretty storage boxes.  Anything that can tuck away clutter and goodies gets an A+, and if it is pretty, it will receive extra credit!

But man are they pricey!  Lacquer, capiz shell, leather, stained.... decorative boxes come in oodles of finishes and sizes, but often at oddly high prices. 

{ 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 }

So imagine the happy little dance I did in the aisle of Goodwill when I spotted boatloads of these little red lacquer boxes:


At $2.99 each, I picked up two {originally $20 at Target, wahoo!}.


One would be cleaned up and left "as is" for the boy's shared bedroom to hold little collectables {what boys don't collect things right?}, and the other was going to live in my studio.


I started out armed with my favorite supplies.  The Goo Gone was the only thing getting the tape residue off of the box.  Then, I wiped it all down with some all purpose cleaner.  From there, I gave it three thin coats of spray paint.  I went with Rustoleum's Paint & Primer, and stuck with a smooth, high gloss finish.


So much better already!  But a little blah for my taste. 

Lately I have been itching to find small touches of gold to bring into our spaces.  Up until recently, I have been afraid.  Very afraid.  Gold reminds me of brass and brass reminds me of bad decor choices my mom made in the 80's.  Love my mom, didn't love the brass side tables.

However, I have been seeing it used so tastefully and I have found that, in small doses, I kinda LOVE it!  Isn't it fun when you surprise yourself?

I cheated and used some gold foil sticker paper that I could cut with my Silhouette, but they also have gold duct tape that could easily be cut down to create a similar look.


I decided to go with a chevron type pattern {found in the Silhouette store}, which I cut a little long, just to be sure it would fit the way I envisioned.


Then I just turned the top over and used a craft knife to cut carefully cut the excess edges off.


Isn't she pretty?!!?


I love the gold against the white.  Feels so fun, fresh and hip.  Something my studio will totally need.  The pattern makes me bright eyed and grinning big!


Since I spend so much of my time sitting at a desk, I find myself reaching for many of the same favorite items throughout the day:
  • Blank notes
  • Hand cream
  • Lip balm
  • Paperclips
  • Pen
  • Page flags
  • Washi tape
This new pretty box will hold all of my favorite things in one place!


Anyone else gaga over decorative boxes?  What do you love to stash inside?  Any other thrifty storage box makeovers you wish to share?


48 comments:

  1. Great job! And awesome find - I love when that happens :) I've been eyeing everything gold lately, maybe because of the Holidays. My can of champaign spray paint is going to get a lot of use this month ;)

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    1. I totally need to get my hands on some champagne spray paint! I just thought of 101 things that could get some extra golden love! ;)

      xo,
      Jen

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  2. That is gorgeous! The one you featured from Zgallerie has been on my knock off list for a while. I think I may need to hop to it after your box inspired me. ;)

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    1. I would love to see it when you are done with it! I think a knock off version would be fabulous!!

      xo,
      Jen

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  3. I love your blog and these decorative storage boxes. I bought some at HomeGoods and use it in my closet to keep jewelry, sunglasses and watches. I have even posted about them before on my (wanna be) blog. They are functional and pretty.

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  4. I love pretty storage boxes too! I stumbled upon your blog and love everthing about it. Very inspiring to me. I'm working on getting my home decluttered and organized little by little.

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  5. These are great!
    I am totally cracking up over the brass comment... I think that everytime I walk into my inlaw - "hello 80's!"

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  6. That is so pretty!! And may I say, good bargain!! 17$ save each!
    Definitely thinking about doing this!!
    xx

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  7. That is really a good idea and very creative! :)

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  8. just lovely!
    J
    http://www.lifelovesand.blogspot.ie/

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  9. Gorgeous project! I have to frequently resist the temptation to buy a pretty box just because when I have no plan for it. Love your idea!

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  10. I love this - and I am so going to copy this!! I have been digging on gold lately too.
    Also - I stalk you (follow you on instagram) and know that you are going to the YHL book signing - and I am so excited to see you there too!!

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    1. YAY! Make sure you take a moment to say hi! :)

      xo,
      Jen

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  11. i've even been known to buy a different type of tea because it came with a pretty tin! im a nightmare with tins, boxes and glass jars! all fun tho x

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    1. I love love when items I need/use come in pretty packaging that can be re-purposed! That's the best!

      xo,
      Jen

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  12. This turned out great! Maybe I need to hit up the Goodwill! Love the gold foil paper :) Great inspiration!

    http://desingerinteal.blogspot.com

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  13. This turned out so great! And I love that it came from Goodwill! I've been loving touched of gold (and even black) and am working up the courage to sprinkle it through our spaces too. Thanks for the boost! ;)

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    1. Oooh, yes, I have been digging bits of black too!

      xo,
      Jen

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  14. It looks SO great Jen! I'd definitely want to put it on display. :-)

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  15. It's so funny that you posted this today! Over the weekend I began a search for similar boxes. I actually recognized the ones you displayed at the top - it was kind of like a memory game guessing which site I saw each one at. I wish I could visit your Goodwill and pick up couple of the ones you found!

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  16. Great job and a totally super find. I've got to start perusing the aisles of my local goodwill.

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  17. Oh I just love pretty boxes too. Jen, someday your granddaughters will absolutely PRIZE all of these beautiful, one-of-a-kind treasures you have made! Just think about how generations from now the word "heirloom" is mostly going to be represented by items that are mass produced in China and packaged with the word "collectible" on the front. Those things will still have the sentimental value of having traveled through time and having been passed through the hands of loved ones, but Jen you are giving your future heirlooms a heartfelt and personally touched origin. Brava!
    -Anita Y. in southern California

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  18. Great deal on the boxes & the end result is amazing! Definitely NOT the gold of the 80's, LOL! I remember black lacquer, brass and glass top tables - ugh! (Sorry Mom!) I have an Achilles heel for decorative boxes, especially antique ones or ones that look like steamer trunks - Love them! The challenge, as always, is not buying very single one I find just because it's pretty:)

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  19. It turned out beautiful!! Very creative!!

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  20. BRASS SIDE TABLES! Oh, flashback to my childhood!!

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    1. Funny thing is, I think my mom still has those tables to this day.... long live the brass tables!

      xo,
      Jen

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  21. Love your blog! And what you have done with box! Re brass. - do have found memories of cleaning the brasses with my Nana! <3!! Great ideas you do come up with :) fan from uk, Kt xo

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  22. Fond not found!!!!! Lol xo kt

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  23. OK! Darling. Super cute idea. I love the brass on top. I am a sucker for all things brass right now.

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  24. Love it! I am in love with goodwill! :)

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  25. Great tutorial. Love the fact that you found it at a goodwill store :) I have little trinket boxes on my desk too--usually filled with pens, pencils, and hand lotion.

    MJ
    Papersidewalks.blogspot.com

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  26. I recently learned a little trick for getting the ridiculous goo from price tags and labels off. Peanut butter! Just smear a bit on to cover the goo wait a few minutes and rub it away. It is amazing and no more scary chemicals. I have tried it on everything I could think of and it worked every time! Love it!

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    1. Oh my goodness that is amazing! THANK YOU so much for sharing! I get so frustrated when labels don't come off... I can't wait to give that natural remedy a try!

      xo,
      Jen

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  27. I love-love-LOVE storage boxes!!! Unfortunately, my husband truly deeply hates them...... So I have to sneak them into the house, one at the time, so he doesn't notice them until it's too late ;)

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  28. Love these storage boxes. Take a mess, organize and make it neat in a beautiful box! :)

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  29. Love it! It looks amazing. I always buy them for my clients or birthday gifts but I don't have one. Must head to goodwill today!

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  30. I love how this turned out!! I've been gaga over gold lately as well. I actually just have a lamp and a starburst mirror a bit of a gilded treatment. I love how it adds just a bit of glam to a space. Thanks for sharing.

    Ahomefullofcolor.blogspot.com

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  31. Love the gold and the chevron pattern! I SOO want a Silhouette

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  32. Great find! I am always on the lookout for beautiful storage boxes, too. They are perfect on the top of the fridge or in the family room for stashing those little items you don't know where to store!

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  33. Good score! Love the gold foil overlay and, yes, I have an obsession with decorative boxes too!

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  34. That's great. Can I ask what is washi tape?

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  35. BEAUTIFUL!!!! I have a plain box which was a gift box. I use it to store my handbag contents when I swap bags. Going to try something similar :) thanks as always, Jen!!!!!

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  36. Well, that's clever. A bit more work than I'd want to do, but I can certainly appreciate and admire your creativity.

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